Froju the Njdla 1 3 5 



comelier than his brother, and Helgi was very fair of 

 face and had beautiful hair. These are the heroes of 

 the adventure which follows. 



The sons came in to their supper, and when they 

 were sat down Bergthora spoke. 



' Gifts have been given you, father and sons, and ye 

 will be no true men unless ye repay them somehow.' 



' What gifts are these ? ' asks Skarphedinn. 



' You, my sons,' says Bergthora, ' have got one gift 

 between you all. You are called " dung-beardlings " ; 

 but my husband is " the beardless carle." ' 



' Ours is no woman's nature,' says Skarphedinn, ' that 

 we should fly into a rage at every little thing.' 



' And yet Gunnar was wroth for your sakes,' says 

 she, 'and he is thought to be good-tempered. But if 

 ye do not take vengeance for this wrong, ye ^^'ill avenge 

 no shame.' 



' The carline, our mother, thinks this fine sport,' says 

 Skarphedinn, and smiled scornfully as he spake ; but 

 still the sweat burst out upon his brow, and red flecks 

 came over his cheeks [his ashen pale cheeks] such as 

 was not his wont. Grim was silent and bit his lip- 

 Helgi made no sion, and he said never a word. Haus- 

 kuld went off with Bergthora. She came into the room 

 again and fretted and fumed much. 



Njal spoke and said, ' " Slow and sure," says the pro- 

 verb, mistress ! and so it is with many things, though 

 they try men's tempers, that tliere are always two sides 

 to a story, even when vengeance is taken.' 



But at even, when Njal was come into his bed, he 

 heard that an axe came against the panel and rang 

 loudly, and there was another shut bed, and there the 



